I've never heard of the boom itself hitting the backstay, but my new main has some extra roach at the top and full battens, and the batten pockets have been known to hang up in light air. Jerry: What does one have to do to arrange for a backstay adjuster? We had a fun race last weekend in which I finished 4th out of 6 boats, which doesn't sound too hot you know what I was racing against. 1st by a long shot (half hour) was a Hunter 21 racing sled that planes. (The only guy we have who has beaten him sails a Tartan 37 and is an experienced racer.) Next was a Newport 28. Right behind them was an Oday 32. Right behind them was me. Behind me was a Hunter 29 and way back behind them was a Catalina 22. That was scratch. On corrected time, I may take 2nd or 3rd. Have not seen the results yet. I was up front with the leaders in a tacking duel until near the end when I got headed off on my tack and they didn't. Somewhere in the middle while tacking back to the start line I realized I hadn't done anything to tension up the rig. My headstay was sagging way off and the leeward shrouds were both hanging loose. I can take care of the shrouds, but the backstay adjuster would help going to weather. Howard